Four quarter effort required for MCUE

Fresh from a general bye last weekend, RFL will resume this weekend with some intriguing games, including the showdown between finals aspirants MCUE and Griffith at Mangoplah Sportsground. MCUE has started the season well with three wins and four losses to sit in fifth position on the ladder but the Goannas have fallen to some costly lapses during games in recent rounds, which have ultimately resulted in consecutive losses to Wagga Tigers and Collingullie-Ashmont-Kapooka. Cohalan (pictured) this morning admitted MCUE had been plagued by inconsistency during its games and said the Goannas would need to produce a complete four-quarter effort to overcome Griffith on Saturday.“We need to learn to be relentless against any opposition,” Cohalan said.“We cannot take our foot off the pedal or have any lapses like our second-quarter fadeout against Gullie.“We need to maintain the intensity for four quarters.“It is the hardest thing to do with a young side but it is something we have been working on massively.”MCUE is one game clear in fifth position on the ladder and a victory would consolidate the Goannas’ position in the top-five with the club set to enjoy its second bye of the season next weekend. Griffith, on the other hand, sits in seventh position with two wins and five losses and the Swans will be desperate to snap a four-game losing streak by beating MCUE to stay in touch with the top-five. Cohalan labelled the game as “must-win” for MCUE.“It is must-win, every game is important but in the context of our season if we can beat Griffith we hold our spot in the top-five and potentially move up a touch at the halfway mark of the season,” Cohalan said.“If we drop it we slip out of touch a bit with the top teams.“Four and four (wins and losses) isn’t a bad spot to be in at the halfway mark but three and five would leave us in a tough spot.”Cohalan identified star Griffith midfielders Guy Orton and Mick Duncan as the danger men for MCUE to contain and said the Goannas would need a quick-start to sink the Swans.“They have some gun on-ballers, in Orton and Duncan who are two of the best players in the league,” Cohalan said.“It will be an interesting battle in there against the Creasy boys (Stace and James).“In past years we have started well against them and dropped off after half-time.“We can’t afford to be complacent and we need to hit the ground running from that first bounce and maintain it all game.“It is a tough road trip for them to drive this far.”MCUE hit a purple patch of form earlier in the season when it scored three consecutive wins over Leeton-Whitton, Turvey Park and Narrandera but the Goannas have slumped to successive losses to Wagga Tigers and CAK at their last two outings. Cohalan admitted a victory was required to give the young MCUE team confidence coming into the second half of the season.“A win this week is massive for a young team like us,” Cohalan said.“We won three in a row and we were flying and then we lost a close one against Tigers.“It is imperative that we get back on the winners list because we have a tough few weeks ahead with the two-top teams (Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong and Coolamon) coming up after the bye.”MCUE could welcome back as many as five players to the team that lost to CAK last-start with Jack, Harry and Matt Collins along with Stace Creasy and Isaac Damme all set to be available for the clash against Griffith.

RFL – round 7

Saturday
GGGM v Coolamon at Ganmain Sportsground
Turvey Park v CAK at Maher Oval
MCUE v Griffith at Mangoplah Sportsground
Wagga Tigers v Leeton at Robertson Oval
Narrandera bye